Railroad Hour 50 02 13 (072) Sweethearts

# The Railroad Hour: Sweethearts

Step aboard the observation car as The Railroad Hour presents Victor Herbert's timeless operetta *Sweethearts*, a glittering jewel of theatrical romance perfectly suited to the intimate medium of radio. This February evening in 1950 promises something truly magical: the delicate spark of young love set against the grandeur of a European military academy, complete with an orchestra that swells with every tender moment and every comedic flourish. You'll hear the celebrated waltz melody that made Herbert famous, performed with the crystalline clarity that only a live broadcast can deliver, as the cast navigates the familiar territory of star-crossed lovers separated by duty and circumstance. The drama unfolds not on a theater stage, but in the theater of your imagination—where the settings can be as lavish as you dream them, and the emotions as deeply felt as any story you've ever experienced.

The Railroad Hour represented a unique moment in American broadcasting when live musical drama could still command the attention of millions of listeners on a Sunday evening. By choosing operettas and musical comedies as their stock-in-trade, the producers tapped into a golden tradition of American musical theater while making it accessible to families across the country who could never afford a Broadway ticket. These weren't condensed, syncopated versions either—they were full-bodied performances with proper orchestrations and seasoned theatrical performers bringing their craft to bear. Herbert's *Sweethearts*, with its 1913 pedigree, was perfect fodder for this sophisticated format.

Don't let this evening pass you by. Tune in to hear why audiences for nearly two decades made The Railroad Hour an appointment with entertainment, and discover why Victor Herbert's melodies have endured for over a century. All aboard for romance and music!